Winter- Meeting. 189 



comparative hardiness of varieties, for all are treated alike. In our 

 orounds the York stood as well as anv tree we have. I do not think 

 the York is a tender tree. As to the ages to plant, in the southern part 

 of rhe state we rather favor one year trees. I emphasize the statement 

 about pruning the roots of young trees when planting them in the 

 orchard. I^ursery men should prune the roots heavily. We usually 

 get tw^o-year trees with roots twelve to fifteen inches long. Cut them 

 back to six or eight inches. When you plant trees with long roots they 

 will start only small fibrous roots and will not send new and strong 

 roots down deep into the soil, like it would do if you cut off the roots. 

 This is not a theory but was learned by experience. Trees, to do well, 

 must have roots deep into the soil. 



II. R. Wayman, Mercer Co. — The Grimes has been successful 

 liere for thirty years. 



Maj. Holsinger. — I planted York Imperial twenty-nine years 

 ago and at various times since. The trees are the best I have to-dav. 

 It originated in Pennsylvania, near wdiere I originated. I felt like in 

 planting it there would be at least two good things in this western 

 country. In '73 the thermometer went as low as last winter. Two- 

 year Yorks pulled through. Other kinds perished. 



I am glad to see Mr. Tippin and others coming around to my 

 position in regard to the roots of trees. I don't care whether a tree 

 has any roots. If it has roots I cut them to one Inch instead of six or 

 eight. When you cut the top you cut the lungs of the tree and it has 

 nothing to live on. Another good point in the paper is plant your best 

 lands. Poor land will not do. 



K. B. Wilkerson. — I am interested in the York and am glad to 

 hear that it is generally doing well. 



Every year I am cutting the roots of my trees a little closer. A 

 few years ago I got some Black Twig apple trees from Kansas. Their 

 roots were so poor that I threw away many of them, but for the lack of 

 something better I planted twenty-fi^^e or thirty of them. The first 

 year they grew fairly well, and the second year they shot away up, 

 some growing four feet or more. We had Red Astrachan killed in nur- 

 sery while York suffered but little. This part of the nursery had two 

 Imndrcd loads of manure to the acre. 



